Recent News

East Central University is expected to grant bachelor’s degrees to 496 candidates and master’s degrees to 153 more during ECU’s 2017 Spring Commencement Ceremonies Saturday, May 6, at the Kerr Activities Center.

J. Michael Prince, a global retail executive, will be the keynote speaker during the 10 a.m. ceremony while former Oklahoma Gov. George Nigh will address candidates during the 2 p.m. exercises.

Dr. Michael Scott, professor of business administration in East Central University’s Harland C. Stonecipher School of Business, was selected for the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP) Region 6 Teaching Excellence Award for 2017.

For the third year in a row, an ECU faculty member from the Stonecipher School of Business has been honored. Dr. Stacey Bolin was chosen for the award in 2016 and Dr. Thomas A. Zeni in 2015.

Kate Draper is ready to try her hand in marine biology research this summer.

The East Central University freshman biology major and Ada resident will do a marine and estuarine science internship at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore, June 5-Aug. 11, through the Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU) program.

“This is a great opportunity to make connections for graduate school and help get the ECU name out there,” said Draper “I’m really excited for being able to work in both the field and lab and it will help me focus on what I want to do with my career.”

East Central University biology major Carlee Henderson was named the 2017 George Nigh Award winner for being the top graduating senior, it was announced at a luncheon on Wednesday in ECU Foundation Hall of the Chickasaw Business and Conference Center.

Henderson, an Ada resident and Latta High School graduate, was one of four finalists for the prestigious honor. The other three were Anna Lawler, a nursing major from Chandler; Kristina Mayfield, a history-teacher certification major from Pauls Valley and Jessica Potter, an elementary education major from Cyril.

“Steel Magnolias” will be the East Central University Theatre Department’s closing production of the 2016-2017 Fine Arts Season on Saturday, April 29, at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, April 30, at 2 p.m. in the Chalmers Herman Theatre of the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center.

“Steel Magnolias,” by Robert Harling, takes the audience on an emotional roller-coaster, revolving around the lives of six women, all of which drastically different personalities that bring out the best in each other.

The play was copyrighted in 1987 and a motion picture was made, based on the play, in 1989.

ECU Showtime will be performing a night of songs from many of the popular Disney animated musicals in “When You Wish Upon a Star” at 7:30 p.m. Friday, April 28, in the Dorothy Summers Theatre on the East Central University campus.

The show is $5 per person and free to ECU students and employees with identification.

Under the direction of Vickie Reifsnider and the musical direction of Rudy Lupinski, the cast will be dressed as Disney characters and perform hits such as Be Our Guest, Let it Go, Gaston and many more.

The Hartel Dance Group of Oklahoma City brings its interactive, multi-media dance experience to the Ataloa Theatre of the Hallie Brown Ford Fine Arts Center in Ada on Saturday, April 22, at 7 pm.

The performance will feature Ada High School graduates, dancer Chelsea Walker, and musicians Aaron Robinson and Dillon Branscum, as well as two world-renowned guest artists from Brazil. This marks the 10th season for The Hartel Dance Group and first time performing in Ada.

East Central University's mission is to foster a learning environment in which students, faculty, staff, and community
interact to educate students for life in a rapidly changing and culturally diverse society. Within its service area,
East Central University provides leadership for economic development and cultural enhancement.